Door-latch.



P. J. LEE.

DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20, 191o.-

996,098. Patented June 27, 1911.

THE uaRRrs Rs'rzk cs1, WASHINCI'DNI, q. c,

UNrTE FIE.

FREDERICK J. LEE, OF WICHITA, KANSAS.

DOOR-LATCH.

Application filed October 29, 1910. Serial No. 588,081.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. LEE, citizen of the United States, residing at ichita, in the county of Sedgwick and Stateof Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved latch for retaining doors and the like closed and for admitting for the opening of the same by the application of a slight pressure.

An object of this invention is to prevent the slamming of the door by disposing the latch in such a manner that considerable pressure is necessary to completely close or seat the door within the frame, and to so position the latch that the door may be i opened by a slight pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a single spring for controlling the double movement of the latch.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved latch applied to a door and a doorcasing, the same having the hood removed so as to disclose the interior of the latch. Fig. 2 is a top edge view of the latch disclosed partly in section. Fig. 3 is a face elevation of the latch. Fig. 4 is an inner end view of the latch. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the parts of the keeper of the latch separated one from the other. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal central section through the keeper showing the same retracted and disclosing the position of the hood about the keeper. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a slight modification of the spring employed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawing by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing the numerals 10 and 11 designate the door-casing and the door respectively, I to which the improved latch is applied. The keeper of the latch includes a base-plate 12 of adaptable size having integral ears 13 extending outwardly in parallel relation from the inner end and at the longitudinal edges of the base-plate. A latch 14 is disposed between the ears 13, the latch comprising a metallic plate having lateral flanges 15 engaging against the inner faces of the ears 13 and an inturned lip 16 upon its outer edge extending across the entire width of the latch. The lip 16 is crimped longitudinally to provide a shoulder 17 and an outer inclined face 18. The ears 13 are provided with rounded apertures and the flanges 15 are provided with elongated apertures 19 receiving loosely therethrough a pin 20 which is secured at its opposite ends through the rounded apertures in the ears 13. The slots 19 admit of the longitudinal movement of the latch 14: between the cars 13 as well as the rotation of the same. The lip 16 terminates against the outer edge of the plate 12 and moves over the outer face of the plate 12 when the keeper plate 14 is retracted. The base-plate 12 is provided at a point midway between the ears 13 with a hump or struck-up portion 12 providing an inclined face for the reception of the lip 16 to raise the keeper when retracted and prevent the binding of the same between the ears and against the plate 12. Springs 21, preferably of helical form, as disclosed, are disposed about the pin 20 between the flanges 15 and have their inner arms 22 engaging against the outer face of the base-plate l2 inwardly of the hump 12 The outer arms 23 of the springs are turned out at a slight angle and seat snugly against the clownturned edge 24 of the keeper-plate 141.

The door 11 is provided with a wearingplate 25 secured adjustably against its outer face by screws 26, or the like, passing through slots 27 formed through the plate 25 in parallel relation. One edge of the plate 25 is straight and is slightly rounded as at 28 to ride over the inclined face 18 of the keeper and fit within the crimped portion of the lip 16 and against the shoulder 17. The opposite end of the plate 25 is turned outwardly to provide a lip 28 adapted for engagement against the shoulder 17 when the plate and the sliding keeper do not register.

The base-plate 12 carries a hood 29 in the form of a metallic plate which is curved to seat against the outer end of the base-plate 12 and extend over the ears and the movable keepertherein. The hood 29 is employed for the purpose'of protecting the springs and their adjacent parts. It will of course be understood that if desired the hood 29 may be omitted. The ears 13 are provided with openings 31 adjacent to their forward edges and registering with the shoulder 17 when the keeper is retracted. A

locking pin 30 engages through the openings 31 and within the crirnped portion of the lip 16 to hold the keeper in a retracted position and out of operation.

In the operation of this improved latch the plate 25 strikes against the inclined face 18 of the keeper when the door 11 is closed.

As the plate 25 is forced against the'keeper' 14, the same slides backwardly between the ears 13 and over the outer face of the base plate 12 and the hump 12 The longitudinal slots 19 in the flanges 15 admit of this sliding and rotary movement. As soon as the rounded edge 28 passes the shoulder 17 the keeper springs outwardly under the action of the springs 21 to engage the shoulder 17 against the rounded edge 28 of the latchplate 25. The door 11 is thus yieldingly held in position and it is necessary to apply considerable force against the inner face 0 the plate 25 to move the yielding keeper. As the door 11 is forced open the plate 25 engages against the shoulder 17 and swings the keeper about the pin 20 until the shoulder 17 swings out of the circular path of the edge 28 when the plate 25 is released and the door is free to open.

WVhen it is desired to render the latch inoperative for a short time, the keeper 14; is retracted between the ears 13 and the looking pin 30 is inserted through the openings 31. When the keeper is released the shoulder 17 strikes the locking-pin 30 and holds the keeper from moving into the path of the edge 28 of the locking-plate.

Referring to Fig. 7 it will be noted that a slightly modified form of spring is disclosed at 21 having the helical'portions 21 terminating in a U-shape inner arm 21 adapted to rest against the base-plate 12. The helices 21 terminate at their opposite ends in arms 21 which are curved upwardly to engage against the inturned edge 24 of the keeper.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is l. A door latch including a base-plate having spaced ears and a hump struck up from its central portion, a keeper-plate having inturned flanges disposed between the ears and provided with elongated slots, the keeper-plate also having a lip transversely crimped to provide a shoulder and an outer inclined face, a spring disposed between the base-plate and the keeper-plate for normally extending the keeper, and a pintle carried by the ears and extending through the elongated slots in the flanges of the keeper-plate, the pintle also supporting the central portion of the spring.

2. A door latch including a base-plate having spaced ears, a keeper-plate slidably disposed between the ears and having inturned flanges provided with elongated slots, a pintle carried by the ears and ex tending through the slots, a spring disposed about the pintle and having its opposite ends resting against the base-plate and the keeper-plate, and a hood carried by the baseplate and extending over the keeper-plate.

3. A door latch including a base-plate having vertically spaced ears and a hump midway between the ears, a keeper-plate slidably disposed upon the base-plate and having inturned flanges provided with longitudinal openings and an inturned lip upon its extremity forming an inclined face and a shoulder, and a wearing plate for engagement against the inturned lip.

1. A door latch including a base-plate having spaced ears and a hump arranged between the ears, a keeper-plate mounted upon the base-plate between the ears and having an inturned lip adapted for engagement against the hump when retracted, a pintle carried by the ears and loosely engaging through the keeper-plate, and a spring disposed about the pintle and having its end engaging against the base-plate and the keeper-plate.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK J. LEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

